Brühl, Germany
Fri Sep 28, 2018
My visit to this city, just south of Cologne, was to explore Schloss Augustusburg. The palace was built at the beginning of the 18th century by the Archbishop-Elector of Cologne, Clemens August of Bavaria of the Wittelsbach family. Nearby is the Falkenlust hunting lodge. I arrived by train, and walked the long Promenade to the palace.
It was a cold, rainy day when I visited, but that didn't dampen my spirits. I spent a lot of time on this visit in the palace gardens, photographing the flowers, followed by a walk in the nearby woods. Walking in the woods is what I remember most about the time when I lived in Germany - something I missed very much - and it was an emotional experience to be walking there once again, even though I'm not able to walk it as easily as I once did.
Promenade to Schloss Augustusburg, Brühl, Germany
Two friends walking in the woods behind Schloss Augustusburg, Brühl, Germany
Ahrweiler, Germany
Mon Sep 24, 2018
Shopping day with friends. I'm not much of a shopper - I fully support the minimalist movement :) - but several of the people I'm here with have never been to Ahrweiler, so I've been drafted to take them on a shopping trip to the old town. It's not much of an imposition as I enjoy walking the narrow cobblestone streets and looking in shop windows. It also gives me the opportunity to have a gelato at one of the may shops in town offering it. The weather it quite nice, sunny and a warm (for this part of Germany in the fall) 70° F.
The old town area of Ahrweiler is surrounded by the original roman era walls and and features cobblestone streets and sidewalk cafes. Ahrweiler is known for its vineyards and wineries, and you can see the on the hills surrounding the old town. In the center of the old town, in the Marktplatz, sits the St. Laurentius Church.
Marktplatzwith St. Laurentius Church, Ahrweiler, Germany
Bad Neuenahr, Germany
Sun Sep 23, 2018
Back in Bad Neuenahr, Germany!! This is my 4th visit to this small town southwest of Bonn, and what keeps me coming back in the laid back, small town atmosphere. When I'm here, I generally spend a lot of time waking along the Ahr river, sipping coffee and enjoying cake in Kamps Bakery. From past experience, I've found Bad Neuenahr to be a great base for touring the area around Bonn and Koblenz. The only real downside is the limited connections available (to either Bonn or Remagen). I'll be here for 8 days, the weather is expected to be nice, and I've got lots of plans and ideas.
I left Bruges early in the morning by train to Brussels. In Brussels, I transferred to a German ICE high-speed train to Cologne, then Bonn and a final change of trains in Remagen. It's been a rainy day, and many trains were delayed (the high speed line in Belgium was partially down), but I still made it on time.
Bruges, Belgium
Sat Sep 22, 2018
Bruges is a chocolate lovers paradise. Every other shop in the old town seems to be selling chocolates of some type. In many cases, the chocolates are produced in the store itself, making each unique. A welcome addition, were all the street vendors and shops selling hot Belgium waffles, with chocolate on top!!
Chocolate lovers paradise, Bruges, Belgium
Bruges, Belgium
Thu Sep 20, 2018
I arrived in Bruges by midday, ready to begin exploring the city. The train station was about 2.5 km from my hotel, so I decided to walk. Pulling up the best route on Google Maps I began walking through narrow, cobblestone streets and alleys. Bruges is a small town, laced by canals (and which seem to be one of the major attractions for visitors). It's also an old city (having its golden age in the 12th to 15th centuries), with many older buildings still in use. The hotel I stayed in, Hotel Ter Brughe, was built around 1553, with the interior beautifully preserved. Along the way, I passed through the Markt area of town, which turned out to be only a 10 minute walk from my hotel.
When I left Phoenix, two days prior to this, the temperature was about 104° F and just about 54° F in Bruges. It was such a long hot summer, and the colder weather felt invigorating and made for an enjoyable walk.
A line of restaurants and older buildings line the square in the Markt area of Bruges, Belgium
My canal view room (room is same level as the canal) at Hotel Ter Brughe, Bruges, Belgium